Spot removing machine



July 6,1948. HCASTQE 2,444,728

SPOT REMOVING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1946 INVENTOR.

Patented July 6, 1948 2 Claims.

I This invention relates to garment cleaning ap-' paratus and it has particular reference to spot removing machines.

The principal object of the invention is toprovide cleaning establishments with a medium with which to isolate that part of a garment containing alspot, to the exclusion of other parts thereof more susceptive to the cleaning effects of conventional detergents and solvents. The invention further provides for the reception of a solvent within the isolated area, characteristically known to be capable of removing obstinate spots or stains, together with means providing a backing for the fabric while draining off the solvent during or after treatment of the fabric by sponging or rubbing to free the same of the spot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spot removing machine having means for applying water to that portion of a garment from which a spot has been removed to flush out the solvent, as well as means for preheating and for applying air to the fabric subsequent to the flushing operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a compact spot removing machine, simple of construction and operation which will afford a garment cleaner with a highly eifective yet-economical medium for removing spots from gar-' ments without the necessity for immersing the entire garment in a cleaning solution.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spot removing machine constructed according to the present invention, with parts broken away.

' Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view of the air preheater, in vertical section.

Figure 3 is a detail view in vertical section showing the upper portion of the machine including the solvent receiving and flushing basin; fabric retaining clamp and actuating means, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the spring tensioned clamp arm, normally held in raised or inoperative position.

Continuing with a more detailed decsription of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 wherein numeral l denotes a work table to which is secured by means of a clamp or bracket II, a housing 12 of cylindrical or other desired cross-sectional shape. Moreover, the relationship of the housing I2 and its associated parts to be described later, and the table III to which Floyd H. Castoe, Dallas; Tex. v a Application February 16, 1946, Serial Niilii48Q042 the housing is attached, may be altered various requirements? Y -Mounted upon the substantiallytrunco-coni formtop l3- of the housing I2 is a casting con-' to'suit sisting of a bowl I4 having a rigid, arcuate arm 15 formedthereon, the upper portion of which will again be'made presently.

The yoke arm-l6 is pivoted at a to the'bifurcat'ed end of the supporting arm' I5 anda double torsion spring I9 is mounted on the pivot pin a of'the arm on each side thereof and has a' portion underlying the arm I 6 to maintain the yoke and consequently the clamping ring l8 in the elevated or inoperative position shown in Figure l in solid lines. The ends of the torsion spring [9 are secured in recesses b in the bifurcations of the supporting'arm I5, as shown in Figure 4.

Mounted in the bowll l of the casting is a; basin 20 in whose bottom is formed a flanged opening 2|, the flange conforming to a recess in the bowl [4 and interiorly threaded to receive a short threaded section of pipe '22. .A nut '23 (Figure 3) is threaded onto the lower end of the pipe 22, against a boss 24 formed on the bowl I4 at its bottom. Thus, the basin 20 is held securely in the bowl.

A drain pipe 25 is connected to the pipe section 22 by means of a union 26 (Fig. 1) in order that the liquids may be drained from the basin 20 and disposed of through pipes 25 and 21, the

latter entering the housing l2 near its botto through a slot 28 therein.

The basin 20 has a rolled rim 29 about its perimeter, against which bears the clamping ring- 18 which, as apparent in Figure 3, is rubber covered to insure a seal against escape of liquid from the receptacle formed by the ring when in.

clamped position on the perimeter of the basin 20 to receivesolvent and water. Moreover, this rubber covering moresecurely clamps the fabric of a garment overlying the basin 20 and prevents accidental slippage during treatment for the removal of a spot.

At or near the top of the basin 20 is a perforated supp rting plate 30 for fabric placed over the basin. This plate affords a backing for the fabric While the latter is being sponged or rubbed to dislodge substances forming the spot, under the influence of a solvent. Excess solvent and water will drain into pipe 25 through the apertures in the plate 30.

Protruding from one side of the housing I2 is ter by means of nozzle'35, it is desirable" to'drythe cleaned area by applying preheated air thereto. This is accomplished through the medium of an air nozzle 31, to which air is passed; after having traveled through a coil of pipe 38 en- ;parallel with water pipe 32,.and drain pipe 2-5,, lBoth ends of the tube 39 are closed by caps 40 iwhile the pipe forming the coil 38 extendsdean of the servicepipesdescribed. Adrain,

plug fi for condensate in the when is threaded nieQ e eni n the w rmo le h a s 40- To'bringtheclampingring l8 downwardly nto mews-m a ar-m r b a e .Wemn'e.-1 a ieriev wiregcable 4,6,is connected,a,t ongenwtqan eye;

situated onthe arm l6 di the clamping, ring yoke intermediate itsends, Thiscable extends wewerd eq r sreev e u y. 48, :dis ed ieieb yn a ess m th arm, A a n e h e eheo eni e 9. messag -game ou e meand r r mi e pu le i; mounted-mm acke -.52 u p rt n the ain 511 12 5 5; Gen:

tinuing downwardly,- the: lower end; of ;the; cable.

4!; issecured to afoot operatedlever 53; intermediateits ends. The lever is, pivoted toabracket 5, 3affi xed to the housing llat itsbase-andgextends through 'a slot 55.thereindiarnetrically op; POL-Site the-pivotal point. A foot pedal 56, is. at:-

tached to or formed on the outer end oi,lever 53,

as-shown.

In operationgit will be observedzthat the clamping ringls .is in normallyraised-:positionunder.

As gamnent having a spotthereinlto beremoveivis so-disposed over the basin; that the spot will be in .theapproxiinatelcenter.

tension o1 spring 1 9,

of the-basin. The foo-tisplaced uponthe pedal 56 to impose tension on the cable dii-tocause'thering; B te be'lowered onto'the rim ofthe basin 20'; or the-fabric-overlying the same; By virtue of the pivoted relationship at c betweentha yoke 11 and-ring i8 the latter hasa tendency to ad-iust its-elf on the b asinto impose uniform -pressure- -onthe iabric throughout its; contact with "the basin.

Therubbe'r covering on thering I 8 will afiord a seal capable of retaining. liquid, hence a receptacleis formed by the ring in which is poured a quantity of; solvent andwh-ile the ring is held downby pressure on theioot pedaltheefiects oi"the-sol- 4 vent are augmented by rubbing or sponging the fabric. After the spot in the fabric is thus removed, the latter is sprayed with water by means of the nozzle 35 to flush out the remaining solvent, after which the damp area is dried by applying hot air thereto, preheated by its passage through the preheating coil 38. After drying the fabric, pressure on the pedal 56 is relieved and the spring [9 will return the clamping ring I8 to its raisegposition, I I

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the 'scope; and meaning of the appended claims is also 15. ;closed in a tube 39 arranged in the housing lfl considered to be Within the spirit and intent of the invention? What is claimed is:

1. A machine for removing spots in fabric comprising a tubular housing, a basin supported on the top of said housing, over which fabric is placed for cleaning, an. arm extending .o-utwardlyirom said, housing, a clamping ring; adapted to.- opera..- tively engage the perimeter of saidgbasin, a. -y,oke pivoted to said'ring having an arm pivoted at its endto the end of saidfirst arm, a torsion-spring embracing the pivot of saidanms for holding said ring normally in raised position, a footpedal; a.

cable connecting said, pedal to. said yokeanm to,

lower. said clamping ring to operative position against the resistance of, said; torsion spring, means. entering and rising in said housing for supplying-water for application to-said fabric, meansalso rising insaid housing for preheating air. for. application, to said fabric and means passing. through said housing for draining said-basin.

2. A'spot removingmachine including atubular housing, a basin mountedon said housing having a perforated plate for supporting the spottedarea of-,atgarment, a clamping ring adapted to be .opere ativelyidis'posed on the perimeter of said basin to hold said-garment, a yoke .pivotallyengaging said: rin'ghaving an. armthereon pivot-ally attached to a support extending laterally fromsaidbasin to theend of which the arm of said yoke is pivotallyattached, a torsion spring embracing the pivot of said-arms for holding said yoke and ringtensionally in raised positioma foot lever-below said basin, a cableconnec'ted to said lever and extend-' ing upwardly-through said housing to said yoke arm for lowering-said clamping ring, means-forsupplying water for application to a' garment withinthe confines of saidring, means in saidhousing for-preheating air for applicationwithinthe-confines-of said ring and means for drainingliquidirom said basin.-

-' FLOYD H, CASTOE.

,VREFERENCES orrEo Thefollowing references are of record in the 

